2021 Lexus LC500 Convertible: A Close Look

Vehicle

The LC500 coupe is a gorgeous car, but now Lexus has made it better by offering a soft convertible top version. It looks great, and turns this flagship ride into a powerful open top roadster that's a blast top drive, especially on back country roads. 

Text and photos by Chad Haire

Top Control

To lower or raise the top, simply operate this control. It is a simple one-step procedure. 

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Retractable Top

This is the top in transit. It takes 15 seconds to disappear, or 16 seconds to pop back up. This can be done at speeds up to 31 mph for those in a hurry. It can be a handy trick if you are caught in a rain storm. 

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Trunk

As expected, the truck space is limited to 3.4 cubic feet. That means limited room for luggage and no spare tire. 

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Tires

The LC500 ragtop comes with run-flat tires. As a rule, these designs provide a horrible ride, but these are pretty smooth. These 21 inch wheels are nice but $2,650 extra. 

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Rear Seat

The only real storage space will be found in the rear seats. It’s just as well, as real people are not likely to fit there. 

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Engine

Under the hood is the same proven 5.0 liter V-8, cranking 471 horsepower found in the coupe. It is hooked to a fantastic 10-speed gearbox. The claimed 0-60 mph time is 4.7 seconds, and that we can verify. The claimed top speed is 168 mph, but since this was driven on public roads, no attempt was made to verify that! Fuel economy is listed at 15/25 mpg, which is pretty accurate. 

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Drive Modes

This control provides settings for ECO, COMFORT, CUSTOM, NORMAL, SPORT, and SPORT+. We found the normal mode to work for 90% of our needs. 

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Touchpad

Instead of a control stick as found on many other Lexus cars, we get a finger touch pad. It takes more skill to use, especially when moving along at high speeds. But the radio controls (above) are separate, and easy to operate. 

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Navigation Screen

The navigation and info screen is large enough at 10.3 inches. 

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Front End

The car rides low to the ground, especially that front end. This allows for excellent stability at high speeds, cornering ability, and assists in fuel economy. The drawback is when you encounter those pesky speed bumps that can do some serious damage if you don't slow down.

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Headlights

The triple-bulb headlights put out a strong beam whether on high or low setting.

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Exhaust

Are those exhaust tips fake or real? Well, a bit of both. On the outside, these are nothing but holes and not connected to the pipes. However, the exhaust tube is located just inches away and does push the fumes out the hole, so in the end, the tip is functional. And that roaring sound-emitting at high rpm is great!

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POV

Behind the wheel of this LC500 convertible is a nice place to be. That soft top is thickly padded and keeps the cabin noise lever low. The large paddle shifters on the steering wheel are easy to find. Overall comfort on long trips is very good, but without the ability to carry much luggage, most journeys will be short. 

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Price

The base price of the soft top is reasonable considering the limited production, but as always, the options soar as well as the ending price tag. 

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Rear

The Lexus LC500 convertible is a well-designed car and should be a roaring success but in economic uncertainty, only time will tell. 

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